Tractor-drawn cultivator



Oct. A7, 1930.

y L. E. STUART TRACTOR DRAWN CULTIVATOR Filed sept.l 24, 1929 2 Sheets-She l www Huhu S-ua/" @hbox new 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [LSua/" Oct. 7, 1930. E. STUART TRACTOR DRAWN CULTIVATOR Filed Sept. 24, 1929 Patented Get." '7, 1930:

PATEWQFFICYA;

EESTUABT, Fv GLE'NDO, i l

" 'rRAo'ron-Dnnwn cUL'rIvAToR Appncauon fried september 24, 192e.l serial No. 394,854.

l This invention relatesto agricultural, ma,-

collines* of lthat type lembodying, a tractor,v `and cult-ivator yvconsistingwoitwo gangs yof 't ground working implements adapted to work n .5 respectivelyvat" n 4 vpposite sides oftherow of plantsunder cultivation.

` 1 a'fflhe invention hasffor one of its .objects to if provide an' agricultural-machine of thechar-V r kacter :st'ated'wherein 1 the gangsof ground working "implements" shall be so Vmounted' as f to permit rthem to bemoved simultaneously andV outaroundthe plants' to the endithat v"all or substantially all of the weeds may be destroyed. f

i j ,rihejinvention has for awfurlther object to yprovide an vagriculturalmachine .of thefchar- J acterstatedwherein the gangs 'of ground Vworking implements `shall be sofmountedas vto permit them to? be movedindependently'.in

l y and'out aroundthe plants to-theend that; all or substantially allthe Weeds 'maybedef stroycd.

The Vinvention has for a-further object to. provide an agricultural machine of the char` acter. stated wherein ,the gangsof ground,

working implements" shall 'be 4sok mounted as` to `permit themto be adjusted laterally with respect to each other `and to the row of plants to the end: that the implements may be caused l 'to follow-acrooked row of plants 'andft'o com-1 pensate Vfor anyjdeviation of a tractor .with

respect to the row` of plants.' l

Theinvention has for a furtherobject to' provide an agricultural machine ofthe character stated which shall embody means `laissociated with the `gangs of ground working i bylugs 8 castonfthe engine ,and the pivot f implements.

The invention has y*flor a 'further object lvto y Y .provide anagricultural'machine of the char"` .40 acter kstated which shall embody means y adapted to elect anabsolute automatic-guiding or Asteering of theftractor by landI asfthe 'i result oii'l maintaining. lthe ygangsof ground working -m'iplements in their normal posi tions Vat the sides of the row of plants.

The invention has'for a still further ob-h' i ject toprovide any agricultural machinek of y the character statedvwherein the tractor guidsteering meansshall be adapted to `perl mitthe simultaneous or independent'adjust,

ment 'of the gangs otground working implements infand out aroundfthe plants without altering the direction otravelof thetractor.` The invention eonsistsin` the construction, c combination and arrangementlof -parts here- 55 inafter fully.. described and claimedyan'd" il lustrated'y in the accompanying drawings@ wherein:- .M 1"' Figure l is a viewpartly inside elevation and partly in vertical section of an agricul- .00

tural machine constructedin accordance with mylinvention';

igure 2 is a. top plan Viewl of the'machine;

i Figure 3 ishadetailed view illustrating the manner l in` whichl Jthe steeringv posts :maybe connected rigidly' to the tractor; l

Figure `t isa sectional view illustrating the manner in which thelywheel 'carrying' posts are, adjustably connected to the frame of the ma# chine, and

` Figure 5' is 10 a` view illustrating/*the manner v a multiple row. CultiVatOr. r

Referring in detail to the drawings, l desig-y in' which the machinejmay be converted into.

nates the tractor of the agricultural .mai f chine. As it may be of any well kknown or appropriate construction, the tractionl isl diagrammaticallyfillustrated, the 4carrying wheels25 axle?) and engine #tot the trac'A tor being'shown. The tractor 1 yis providedfso'` i kwith'steeringg'posts15 which, in!` accordance'. L with my invention, are connected' tothe engine 4C for simultaneous movement or adjustment .about a horizontal axis Gand forv simultaneous for independent adjustment 85 about a vertical aXis 7 The pivot 6 is carried i front end to a stud or pin l2 extending down?" 95.

ward from the lower sideof the/engine 4;? The frame ll comprises rearwardly diverge. ing bars 13,y which are connected at their` front kends and are provided at their/rear ends with outwardly directed arms 14.1."l`he 0U f izo Y turning of the tractor by they wheels18, which yin ' known or appropriate construction, `they are bars 13 are provided their connected front ends withan opening 15 for the reception of the pin or stud 12. Standards 16, which are Vprovided at their lower ends with rspindles 17 for wheels 18, are secured tothe arms 14 vby clamps 19, which establish anvadjustable connection betweeny the standards and arms so as topermitthe framejll tobe supported atk the required height above theground.

l/Vhile theclainps 19 may bev ofany well shown as comprising yokes 20, which emf 11 and extend rearwardly from the ends of, the cross bar'23. The draft bars 26 -ar econV -k nec'ted at Vtheir front endsv tothe cross bar 23 for movement about horizontalaxes 27 and vbrace thek arms 14 andstandards'16, and set screws 21 carried bythe yokes and engaging.'k

the standards; The c onnection'between'the tractor'l and ythe `frame 11 is such as to permity the tractor f to kb e turned withrespect to the frame about the stud or .pin 12 as anaxis, the'frame being heldl against laterallfmov'ement during the for this purpose are provided with ground engaging peripheral ianges 22. 'i p :f cThe frame" bars 13. have horizontal iront lportions 13a arranged'beneath the engine 4,

Vintermediate portions 13b'extendingnpward-V ly and rearwardly from the front portions, andrear portions 13c extending horizontally f fromthe -intermediateportions A crossbar 234 is varranged beneath and secured by bolts 24 to--therear ends of the horizontal bar portions 135.1 Thev cross bar v23 extends beyond the. horizontal bar portions'13?, and is provided at each end thereof with a pairof rearwardly directed ears 25. f

- Draft bars 26 are located below frame vertical axes 28. The pivots 27 pass through the lugs 25, sleeves l29 are kmounted vupon the pivots between the lugs, and the pivots 28 pass through spacing collars 30 carried' the' sleeves. The 'draft bars 26eachoonsists yof uppery and lower members: 26a, which have their' frontr ends arranged in Contact with, the" upper. and lower ends ofthe sleeves of Ythe collars 30, the pivots 28 passing throughsaid ends ofthe draft-barmembers.-V

`vGiang. bars v31,"ea'chv of which carries a plurality of cultivator Yblades ,32, arey con-f nected tothe Arear ends of the` draft bars; 26

bybolts 33. Each gang bar-31 is arranged betweenthe rearends of the'memloers'26a of each draftbar 26.7V The gang bars 31` arew connected, at Ypoints inwardly beyond. their transverse centersg'to they dratQbars26', and

they yincline laterally and rearwardly from.

the longitudinal center of themachineiwhen V`in normalposition.- rlhe gang 'bars 31 are held against accidental turning movementI y with respect to the draft bars 26v by the bolts 33.4Gang bar control arms y34 Iof angularYV formation are pivotally and'slidably connected at their rear ends, as at '375, to the steering posts 5 at points rearwardly beyond the gang bars. The control arms 34V are f securedfat their front ends, as at 36, to the gang bars 31 inwardly beyond the connection of the gang'bars with the draft bars 26..

A. steering Varrn`-37 is fixedly secured, as atl,l 38, to the vrear side of the'engine 4 and eX- j tendsV upwardly and rearwardlyfroin the 'Y engine. vv.Longitudinally' extending levers '39, are pivoted between: their' ends,` as at 40, yto the rame'barsl. The levers 39l havetheir front endsc'onnected to the rear endof' the steering. ar1n37. by linlrsf41l and have their rear ends connected tothebrace arms"34 by coilfsprings 42.Y

Y, .As thesteerlng Aposts 5yfare connected'to the engine 4forfmovementabout the horizontal axis l6as'the draftbars 26fare'con-1 nected to the frame 115for movement about horizontal axes 27, and as the gang' `bars 31,

area connectedtotthe-steering-- posts v'by' the bracel arms 34, the gangs,V otcultivatorblades 32 may be lowered intoor' raised out 'of enf gagement `with'r the ground through the inediurnk of thesteering posts, and thel leplik'oii` penetrationvof the gangs offcultivator blades may be regulatedfthroughthe' medium"foie",`l "i 'the steering posts. l

Asthesteering posts 5 arepivotally conl;

nected tothe engine 4 for simultaneousl and" independent :movement about the upwardly andy forwardly inclined axis 7,f'as thefdraft` bars 26 are connectedto 4the `traine 11 for f simultaneous for independent ,movementlabout the VverticalV aXis28, and as',y the ngang bars 31 are connected to the steering posts by the control arms 34, the 'gangs oit' cultivatorblades 32 may be`.1noved,`through the i medium'o'f'the steering posts,simultaneously f or independently inV and out around vthe plants to the endthat all or substantially all mayv be: adjusted laterallyiwith respect to eachother andtofthe rowfof plants toV the/ff"v `endV that theyv may :be 'caused to vfollow ag of'V thevr weeds may be destroyed, .and they crooked rowyofplantsv andto compensate l o'r'any'deviation of the tractor with respect tothe rowotpl'ants; l f n The' arrn3?, levers 39 'and 'the links 41 constitutethe tractor steering means. V'The springs 42, through the medium ot which of cultiv'ator blades 3 2in their "normal position at opposite sides of the rowoplants,

the steering means functions` to guideV the row of plants.

tractor in the'directionv ot the length of thel d yThe gang bars'Sl' be arranged at any Y desiredvor re uired anolewith respect to the vlongitudinal center of the machine, Landthey maybe arranged in alinement transversely' v.of the machine when it is desired tofuse it for thepurpose of cultivating a plurality Y of rows of plants. Y Y y Y ,c VhenA the machine isused forv this purestablished by the bolts Btbetween the gang' barsland theauxiliary gangjbar 31a is loose so as to/permit the gang ybars to be i movedlaterally .through the medium of the pose, an auxiliary gang bar 31a;y provided with additional. cultivator blades 32a is secured to the alined gang bars 31 by the bolts 33, as shownV in Figure The'connection steering post 5. WhenV it is desired to use the tractor for purposes fother than the cui'- tivation of plants, the steering posts 5 are secured against movement with respect to the tractor by linkseaav and 45, as shown in Figure. 3. l

It should4 be understood yfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection vwith the'accompanying drawings, that the gangs of cultivator blades maybe `readily adjusted laterally with respect'to each other andV to l the plants, readily adjusted laterally and'sithe invention,ftogether with the structure .which I now consider .the preferred embodi? ment thereof, it is to4 be understood that niultaneously'with-respect tothe plants, and

l.' readily maintained .in a normalposition at the opposite sides of the plants, and that the tractor will be automaticallyl steeredV while the operator is devoting his entire attention to the cultivation ofthe plants.

' WhilelI have described'the principle of the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may bemade, when desired, as fall within the scope of the invenf' tion as claimed.

'l'. In combination, a tractor, a frame pivoted at its front end to the tractor, ground engaging wheels suppcrtingl the rear end ofthe frame, draft bars connectedto the frame for y'movement aboutjvertical and horizontal axes7 gang bars connectedto the draft bars and ar-v ranged at an angle to the longitudinal center of the frame and tractor,ground working im-V plements secured to the gang bars, gang bar steering posts'connected to the tractor for movement about a horizontal axis and an axis inclined with respect to the vertical, and arms 'connectingthe steering posts to the gang bars whereby to-swing the gang bars Vvertically or horizontally coactivelyl with the vertical or horizontal swinging of said steering posts. i 2. In combination, atractor, a frame piv- 1., oted at its frontend to the tractor, ground eni gaging wheelssupportingthe rear end of the frame, draft bars connected to the frame for movement about vertical and horizontal axes, gang bars connected -to the draft bars and arranged at an angleto 'the'longitndinaljcenten! y of the frame and tractor, ground working imli plements'securedto'the gang bars',"gang bar steering pests connected to thetractor for si:l

multaneous movement about a horizontal axis and for "simultaneous lor Vindependent 'i move-f nient. about an axis inclined with respect to!Y the vertical, and arms connecting the steering; posts "to the `gangb'ars wherebyto swingthe gang barsY verticallygor horizontally coactivel lywit-li the vertical or horiz ntal swirngingod;B said steeringhposts.` A ,i f ii y f3. I 'f "combination, a tractor,'a` frame pv oted at its front end to theltractor',ground'env` gaging wheels supportingthe-rear end of the frame, draft bars connected to the framefor` movement aboutiverticaland horizontal axes, i

gang bars connected tothe draft bars and arranged at an angle tothe longitudinal center ofthe frame and tractor, ground Working im#l plements secured tothe gang bars, steering posts connected to the tractor for movement about a horizontal axis and an axis inclined with respect to the vertical, arms connecting the steering posts to the gang bars, a steering arm fixed to the tractor and extending rearwardly therefrom, levers pivotally connected between their ends to the frame' and extending f longitudinally of the frame, springs connecting the rear ends of the levers to said first arms, and links connecting the front ends of the levers to the rear end of the steering arm. i 4. In combination, a tractor, a frame pivoted at its front end to the tractor, ground engaging wheels supporting the rear end of the frame, draft bars connected to the frame for Y movement Vabout vertical and horizontal axes,

gang barsconnected to the draft bars and arranged at an angle to the longitudinal center of the frame andvtractor, ground working irnplements secured .to the gang bars, steering posts connected to the tractor Vfor siniultane-iy i ous movement about a horizontal axis and for simultaneous or independent movement about an axisinclined with respect to the vertical, arms connecting the steering posts to the gang bars, a steering arm fixed to the tractor and extending rearwardly therefrom, levers pivotally connected between their ends to the frame and extending longitudinally of the.-

' secured to the gang bars, and means connecting the steering posts to the gang bars Where,- by to swing the gang bars vertically or horizolltally' 0o'ai0tyelyy with the verticnalgor horv zqntalvs'w'ngg of saidfsteelng posts. Y f Vr6. Infeombnatoma tractor, a fraune pvoted-at its vfront end to the tl'atetor,` groundenv .gagng Wheels Supporting the'rear endwiof'V the flgalne,.steerng postsgpvotally Connected tothetreetor, draft bars pvota'lly connected to the frame, gang barsxeonneeted to the draft, bars,,'groundfworkngimplements Secured to lo thegangbars, means connecting` the'steerng v pstsgtolthe gangbare', ,ay steering rau'nfl yxedtoA the tractor, and means establishing an opera-V. tye 'andi@yieldingconnection between the. ,K ',steerngfarln and said frstmeans. l n y .15 tlntestnnonywhereof I hereunto axmy i i signature.l 7 

